Passion for Golf: In Pursuit of the Innermost Game

Most avid golfers believe that there is a profound connection between the joys and challenges of golf and the joys and challenges of living — that the more devoted we are to the game, the more we learn about ourselves. In Passion for Golf, Roland Merullo looks carefully at those connections and at the reasons why people find themselves irresistibly attracted to golf. Drawing on the triumphs and travails of playing partners, friends, and family members, and mixing in anecdotes from his own adventures on and off the course, Merullo explores the notion of a 'true goal of golf,' a hidden attraction that, ultimately, has more to do with deep peace and satisfaction than with the dream of playing on the PGA tour. He finds connections between fairway lessons and the mystical wisdom of Lao Tzu, Theresa of Avila, Thoreau, Jesus, Buddha, and Walt Whitman, among many others, and looks into the role of ego, anger, and silence in golf and life. More than anything else, Passion for Golf is a celebration of the game, an examination of the roots of our passion for it, and a meditation on the lessons every golfer carries away from the course and into his or her life. Publishers Weekly wrote, “For average hackers who struggle weekly to lower their scores, this slender, accessible guide offers insight into the emotional stumbling blocks that get in the way of improvement and, most importantly, enjoyment of the game… Readers who enjoyed Michael Murphy's Zen of golf classic, Golf in the Kingdom, should have room for this spiritual journey in their Christmas stocking." And, The Washington Post stated “…Merullo provides more than enough food for thought for even the most contemplative golfer.”